Butler handcuffs Legends in 3-0 Tourists' win

First-round pick throws one-hitter in eight innings

From staff reports

Published: Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 10:53 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 10:53 p.m.

The 3,085 Thirsty Thursday fans had to drink their beverages quickly on Thursday night at McCormick Field, as Asheville ace Eddie Butler shut down the Lexington Legends in a 3-0 win that lasted only 1 hour, 46 minutes.

Butler, a frist-round draft pick by the Colorado Rockies in 2012 out of Radford University, improved to 2-0 after going eight innings and allowing just one hit with four strikeouts and two walks. Raul Fernandez closed things out in the ninth, allowing the only other Legends' hit, to earn his seventh save of the season and give Asheville its sixth straight win.

The Tourists got single runs in the third, fourth and eighth innings. Matt Argyropoulos led the offense, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Tom Murphy was 2-for-3 with a double and a run, and Julian Yan went 1-for-3 with a double and a run.

Christian Binford (1-2) took the loss after his seven innings of work. He gave up two runs (both earned) off six hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.

The Tourists (12-9) will host Lakewood over the next four days, beginning with tonight's game at 7:05 p.m. Game 2 will be at 6:05 p.m. Saturday, Game 3 is at 2:05 p.m. Sunday, and the final game will have an early 11:05 a.m. start Monday for Education Day at the ballpark.

<p>The 3,085 Thirsty Thursday fans had to drink their beverages quickly on Thursday night at McCormick Field, as Asheville ace Eddie Butler shut down the Lexington Legends in a 3-0 win that lasted only 1 hour, 46 minutes.</p><p>Butler, a frist-round draft pick by the Colorado Rockies in 2012 out of Radford University, improved to 2-0 after going eight innings and allowing just one hit with four strikeouts and two walks. Raul Fernandez closed things out in the ninth, allowing the only other Legends' hit, to earn his seventh save of the season and give Asheville its sixth straight win.</p><p>The Tourists got single runs in the third, fourth and eighth innings. Matt Argyropoulos led the offense, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Tom Murphy was 2-for-3 with a double and a run, and Julian Yan went 1-for-3 with a double and a run.</p><p>Christian Binford (1-2) took the loss after his seven innings of work. He gave up two runs (both earned) off six hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.</p><p>The Tourists (12-9) will host Lakewood over the next four days, beginning with tonight's game at 7:05 p.m. Game 2 will be at 6:05 p.m. Saturday, Game 3 is at 2:05 p.m. Sunday, and the final game will have an early 11:05 a.m. start Monday for Education Day at the ballpark.</p>